FALLS CHURCH, Va., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Catherine West, formerly Executive Vice President of First USA Bank, joined Capital One (NYSE: COF) as senior vice president in charge of Risk operations. Ms. West will be responsible for executing Capital One's risk strategy, which includes fraud, collections, and recoveries.

"Capital One is committed to building a lifetime customer franchise," said Nigel Morris, Capital One's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Our ability to manage a customer's risk allows us to make the best offers in the credit industry and enables Capital One to lead the industry with the lowest charge-off rates. I am very pleased that Catherine has decided to join our leadership team. Her extensive experience in the credit card industry will greatly benefit Capital One as we continue to grow."

Catherine West commented, "Clearly what attracted me to Capital One was the high caliber of talent and the innovative and creative entrepreneurial culture. What attracted me to the job was the idea of extending Capital One's vision into Risk-a vision that is focused on the needs and wants of the individual customer."

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Capital One Financial Corporation (www.CapitalOne.com) is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Capital One Bank and Capital One, F.S.B., offer financial products and services to consumers. Capital One's subsidiaries collectively had 23.7 million customers and $20.2 billion in managed loans outstanding at December 31, 1999, and are among the largest providers of MasterCard and Visa credit cards in the world. Capital One is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "COF." SOURCE Capital One Financial Corporation

CONTACT: Diana Don of Capital One Financial Corporation, 703-289-6815/